Bird Friendly Campus
Creating bird-friendly campuses is an important way post-secondary institutions can support biodiversity and contribute to UN Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land. By protecting habitats, reducing threats such as window collisions, and fostering awareness of local wildlife, campuses can provide safer spaces for birds and other species. Despite these efforts, birds may still become injured or distressed. Knowing how to respond appropriately can help improve their chances of survival and support our shared commitment to protecting wildlife.
What to do if you find an injured small bird:
- Find an item to contain the injured bird, like a paper bag or cardboard box.
- Poke small holes into the box to allow the injured bird to breathe.
- Wash hands. Gently place the injured bird inside the bag/box and close it. Wash hands immediately after handling.
- Do not feed the bird or give it water.
- Handle the bird as little as possible to help minimize stress to the bird.
- Keep the box in a quiet, dark spot away from animals and children.
- If you hear fluttering after a short period of time, take the bird to a green space or quiet spot away from windows and buildings to release it.
- If the injured bird remains unresponsive, contact work.control@uregina.ca or 306-585-4039.
Or contact Salthaven West Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Centre or Wildlife Rescue Society of Saskatchewan
What to do if you find an injured large bird:
- Contact Salthaven West Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Centre or Wildlife Rescue Society of Saskatchewan
What to do if you find a dead bird and want to provide a specimen:
- Find an item to contain the dead bird (e.g., ziploc bag, plastic container, paper bag).
- Either use the bag to grab the bird or use your hands to deposit the bird in the container. Wash hands immediately after handling.
- When convenient, write the date and location you found the bird on the container. If possible, record the campus building name as well.
- As soon as possible, drop the bird off at the front desk of the Royal Saskatchewan Museum between 9:30AM-5PM Monday to Sunday. If you cannot make it to the museum right away, put the container in a freezer until you can.
Or contact Work.Control@uregina.ca or 306-585-4039.
Dead birds donated to the Royal Saskatchewan Museum provides a second life to these birds to be used for scientific (sometimes even student research projects), education, and artistic purposes. Thank you to Dr. Ryan Fisher, RSM Curator of Vertebrate Zoology, for his assistance.
Bird Friendly Campus:
Royal Saskatchewan Museum Research
Wildlife Rescue Society of Saskatchewan
Salthaven West Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Centre